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Fashion inside the church?

I am in Taiwan and a regular churchgoer in St. Christopher's Church in Taipei, and I usually don't have a prying eye on other parishioners. However, I have noticed recently that there are so many young and not-so young women are attending the church wearing something which I reckon is not in the principle of propriety.

While sitting at the back bench, I can't help but noticed these women in jeans with tiny, body-fitting tees (sleeveless or with sleeves mini T-shirt). I supposed there is nothing wrong with that but the offensiveness comes in when they are sitting down. Pardon my words but with a low waist jeans and a tiny top, you can imagine what can be seen. You can see the underwear protruding from the jeans waist (well, you can certainly conclude she is wearing a red underwear) or the fine line dividing the two buttocks became highly visible. Some are wearing sleeveless tops and the black brassiere's straps spun out from the tops sleeves. I apologize for the blatant descriptions but I myself as a woman find it embarrassing to the men who are sitting at the back. Though these men have no primary intention of going to church just to see these unsightly views but the very thing is placed right under their eyes. As a woman, I find it disturbing, what can it be for the men? I am dishearten with the lack of proper dress and manner inside the church.

I know the church does not impose proper code dressing inside the house of God. The Bible has made it clear in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:2-5 about the proper dress for women. However, some like wearing veils can be ignored but the principles of modesty and propriety can still be applied. One doesn't have to wear flashy and expensive dress, or she doesn't have to look like she's going to a ball, rather a descent attire that does not send an opposing message to the church values. Granted that its summer time and we all want to be cool and casual. Women can wear jeans and tiny tees but once inside the church they can put on something over it so avoid showing what is not supposed to be seen.

How the parishioners dress in the church is a reflection of attitude and intention. I don't want to sound preachy because I am not a theologian but isn't it the prime purpose of going to the church is to “meet” the Lord who is present in the Holy Eucharist? Aren't we dressing to meet the Lord and to participate in the mystery of His salvation? Or aren't we in Christopher’s Church just to flaunt what we have? We all come to Christopher Church not because it is a building where we can have free air-conditioning, meet with our friends, be with our sweethearts but we come to St. Christopher's Church because it is the house of the Lord. When we come to the house of the Lord, we should look our best, and showing half of your bottom is not I supposed what we can afford to be the very best for the Lord, who gave His very best for us (His life).

If a woman have to meet the parents of her boyfriend, she wants to look presentable. She'll wear the best dress she has and she'll see to it that she looks neat, clean and properly clothed. Why is that? Because she wants to gain their respect. It is the same thing with going to the church. You want to be presentable to God. You don't want to look trashy.

God always look for the hearts of the people rather than the physical aspect. However, what we wear to the house of the pure God is an indication of where are hearts are. Filipinos are fashionable people and societal behavior is subjected to trends but fashion should not dictate what to wear inside the church. St. Paul stresses modesty in 1Cor.12:23. Modesty, is “propriety in dress, speech, or conduct”. Proper church etiquette requires that men and women come to church not only properly clothed but also ready and willing to conduct themselves accordingly and respecting the sanctity of God's House.